The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-03-24

middle or isill be soo much for yor
/. cried challis, struggling assins, his 4
: nature.
) But Rsst had burisd has pick in I
, foremost end before The vords reach
, him. The upper portion ~ the log sudde
ly veered and pressed ~ Ice cake, st
bearing Rasi. out into ths swift sircar
where Il wbirled hopelsasly abon. for
moment aud then vas svspt around II
curve, out OF sigh. o. ~ group on n
shore.
II was Chalis who broke the silen,
that followed "Simon Gott, are thel
any boats At The foot Of ths islaud2"
"Yer amt goin' ter nsed no boats.
quoth Simon the undisturbed. "Th
eddyll kerry him ashore YER Iniun Pint,
guess,
"Guessf" cried Chsliis ID decided tones
"uuesss know that ths only chance {
saving Rsst il 1t the mouth OF the Nsrrows
Are you going 10 let thsfoue chance out
weigh all the rest? Boys. every minut
may mean life or death to Rnt What or
you thinking about9"
II don't believe there 10 boat at th'
FOO. that will stand such sea-" vii
Ransom ventnred this Information. al
we're speechless with smszement caused
by Rast's sudden exi! and the sstonsh
ment Chal's rare words created.
"Boys, look alivel Ned. you and Harry
take the best horses yon can find and ride
straight TO the foot OF the island. II there
IS boat OF any sort, put out Will, send
your skifr after them as quickly as posi-
BILE; there may be time il there is no boat
there. The roads are bad? Yes don't I
spare tho horses; out on the bay it will DO
impossible for any one to help him."
The boys thoroughly awakened we're
burryiug off.
"Some Of you go with Will; the rest
rouse the town; you'll need oil the help
you can get" called out Chsllis as be
bounded past. nicholas Derry, you go
straight aud tell the deacon the truth OF
lhe matter" and by the time painting Rag
bag realized this last was for him, ChAllis
vas out Of sight
When Rist felt himself driven outward
~ the pressure OF the log, bis first i'm
,ulse was to Jump into the water and
win ashore. but with it came the boys
hout at his dripping figure. and that
)hal's swift harpoon might yet bring the
og to the beach. No. there was chance
Il grounding at Indian Point, and he
,ould run the risk. He drew the log
lose beside tue cake OF ice and fastened
is pick near the center. Together they
'ere comparatively steady, and foated
peedily on toward the point. For time
Q appeared to near the land, but it soon
ecame evident that the line OF foam
hich marked the boundary between eddy
nd tide was receding. With desperate
irus. Of his pole Rsst sent the log shore
ard As it shot by he attempted to II
is pick in the hinder end, but it dropped
ith forlsrp -rlash into the water far
ut the way Round ard round spun
ast's head with very tuirl of the raft
o was vaguely conscious that everything
spended on his GOODNESS; bnt the idea
at he must think precluded every
her thought. II must think Il must
INK" He could almost hear the words;
ID somewhere 10 his brain the echo rang,
Think! Think
Rast pressed his hands to his throbbing
mples OH il he could think II will'
J cried alond, and summoning every
,wer, looked around him. The short
ring twilight was drawing to a speedy
ose. Through the deepening gloom the
ores on either hand could be just des
led, and, hark that rushing sound must
Swiizar's brook Thank God he was
further from home. The last few min
es had been unmeasurable. The river
n on smoothly, and Rast became quite q
I'm as be reviewed his situation, Until 9
reached the mouth Of the Narrows there q
IS chance of rescue; after that, none,
irving at this conclusion, Rast picked" .
ery cake of ice within bis reach which c
ifted mora closely than he, hoping to J
tarl bis progress. ani work into a less
pid part OF the channel The tide was
nniug ont, bn. st,ff breezs blew up the
'e'.
That's one thing in my favor, Rast
nsfalulateA himself, aud his spirits
,e. Perhaps by leaping from cake to
ke lac might ia time gain the land. l.
IS very good thing that he could jump y
II Chal would have hard one to beat
N at that They would race again TO-
,rrow, and il he was of a mind to try,
could win without any trouble But as 0
ne passed. even these cheerful thoughts
led 10 keep up Rasfs courage, and he
udiered as the licking waves eurled
er the edge OF the iee cake II was Of I
use; be would deceive himself no long n
He knew we'll that he dared not quit p
, solid cake for ope that might break q
der bin and drop him into Black river Il
vessel voull think Of coming up stream G
zen the ice was going ont. and for help b
,m the shore--there was hardly house p
thin sound from Clearbafbor TO the tay b
grew dark very rapidly. and as nothing II
aid be seen on either hand, Rsst was g
ligej to give up bis endesvors and drift b
AT bend in the river the old whirl Il
motion began anew. and closing bis b
IS be planted bis pick pole 10 the mid d
Of the ice cake. aud leaned his head v
siDst il, making every effort 10 keep his b